Expert: Dear Tabbi - 7/22/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have three cats one is seven years old and the other two are twelve. They are all male, neutered, and declawed. One of them has always had problem with the litter box and urinating. We have three boxes, always cleaned every day. He will often use the box, but the other day he actually stood on my kitchen table on a plastic bag and peed all over it! I have the living and dining rooms blocked off because he will pee on the carpeting which is new..replaced because of him. I have tried every gadget out there and all home remedies such as mats, tape, balloons, etc. I am at my wits end!

ANSWER: Ellen,

That IS a frustrating problem. House soiling is the most common behaviour problem reported by cat owners and is a major cause for cats to be abandoned or undergo euthanasia.

Has he been checked for a urinary tract or kidney infection, urinary stones, colitis, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, kidney or liver disease, including a previous injury to the kidney area, or from something inherited? When a cat pees in front of you that is usually a sign of a medical problem. If he has pain from something being wrong when he urinates in the litterbox he may go elsewhere because he would associate that pain with the litterbox.

One of the most common feline responses to stress is inappropriate elimination. The bladder is the cat’s stress target. People are often surprised to learn that these acts performed by a cat are designed to help them calm down.

If it is not a medical issue, a cat can quit using the litterbox when they are upset at you or stressed over something in or around the home. Sometimes you have to be a dectective to figure out why. Have there been any changes in the home? Pets that visit? Have you left him alone for a couple of days? Not giving him the same amount of attention? If there are stray cats in his territory that he can see out the window but can't get to that will cause that behavior because he is 'marking his territory'. Blocking the window usually cures the problem.

Sometimes too, cats don't like where their litterbox is located. They like privacy. They also may decide they don't like the litter you are using or the litterbox becomes too small for their liking. Try getting some children play sand from Home Depot or a buiding supply store and see if he prefers that and a bigger litterbox with deeper litter in it. That will tell you if it is a litterbox problem. In addition, using litter boxes with lower sides and placing the litter box in the area in which the cat spends the most time may be helpful.

There is a very popular cat calming spray and plug-in you can use called Feliway. It is available at pet stores or on-line. It copies relaxing pheromones that cats produce from rubbing their faces on things. There is also a calming product that you can add to your cat's food or water that reduces anxiety called Bach's Rescue Remedy. It is available on-line and in health food stores. Here is a link about it: http://www.bachflower.com/Pets.htm.

Here are some links that should be helpful also regarding improper elimination:
(copy and paste, or type the whole link into your address bar)

http://www.geocities.com/heartland/pointe/9352/litterboxhelp.html

http://www.apbc.org.uk/article10.htm

http://cats.about.com/cs/behavioralissues/a/outsidebox_two.htm

Here is some Older Cat Information that may be informative for you:

http://www.sniksnak.com/resources/geriatric.html

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=1&cat=1310&articleid=610

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And here is some helpful (I hope!) information on cleaning cat urine:

HOMEMADE CAT URINE REMOVER

1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda
1 teaspoon of liquid soap

3% hydrogen peroxide can be bought at most grocery and drug stores in pint and quart bottles.

Gently mix all ingredients in a non-metal container. Do not mix or shake vigorously! The mixture is best used when fresh but can be stored. Do not keep mixture in an airtight container as baking soda and hydrogen peroxide when mixed together release loads of oxygen. We don't want an explosion on our hands on top of the mess we already have! You can mix and keep it in large spray bottle (Home Depot, etc.) but on old plastic liter soda bottle works just a well. Just remember to keep the cap on loose.

HOW TO REMOVE CAT URINE ODOR FROM CARPETS

FOR INDIVIDUAL URINE SPOTS ON CARPET:
If fresh, sop up as much cat urine as you can with a paper towel first. Use a spray bottle to saturate the spot completely with the recipe - do not blot. The recipe must penerate the padding and possibly the floor boards underneath, where the urine has penerated for it to work. Wait 24-48 hours until dry then vacuum. If the urine odor is still present - repeat the procedure. It usually takes 2-3 applications to completely neutralize the cat urine odor.

FOR LARGE AREAS OF CARPET:

You can use a carpet cleaning machine  using the recipe instead of the shampoo. You will need to make several gallons of the recipe depending on the size of the carpet. Don't use the vacuum part of the machine - you will want to let the solution soak and dry for 24-48 hours before vacuuming. Most carpet cleaning machines are not made for this use and baking soda can clog the nozzles of the machine.

A 1 gallon garden bug sprayer (Home Dept., etc.)  works great too.  Rinse the nozzle out frequently by filling the tank with hot water and spraying it in the  bathtub. If using the sprayer, saturate the entire carpet with the recipe, let dry for about 24-48 hours, and vacuum. You will have to probably repeat the procedure again. Areas heavily saturated with old urine may take 3 applications over a week.

If the cat urine is old and dried, the smell will probably be worse a day or two later. This is because you are rehydrating the uric acid crystals in the urine to neutralize them. The smell will get better with each application!

MATTRESSES:

You must saturate the spot throughly to get deep down into the padding and springs to neutralize the urine. If the cat has urinated alot in one spot, the mattress can be soiled all the way to the other side! Let the area dry for 24-48 hours without bedding then reapply if necessary.

SOFAS:

The same directions as above  but always check for color-fastness in a hidden area before using. Cotton is used in alot of upholstery fabrics and is easily bleached. If your sofa pillow cushion covers can be unzipped and taken off (must be color-fast and washable) you can put them in the washing machine using the instructions for clothing and bedding.

CLOTHING, COMFORTERS, AND BEDDING:

Put the items in the washing machine and pour in enough of the recipe to cover throughly. This might take a few gallons depending on the size of the load. Soak for at least 24 hours. Rinse and rewash using normal washing detergent. If any of the odor is still present, soak again for 24 hours, rinse and rewash.

A small area on a comforter can be spot treated by saturating the area throughly, letting it dry for 24 hours, then washing the comforter normally in the washer with detergent. Always check for color-fastness before using.

AREA RUGS:

They can be spot treated with a sprayer or put in the washer. Test for color-fastness before treatment.

HARDWOOD FLOORS:

When cat urine seeps into wood flooring it causes the fibrous cells in wood to swell and warp ruining the flooring planks. The only way to fix this is by replacing the wood. You can treat the wood with the cat urine remover recipe but wood is preamable and it could make the wood swell further, causing further damage.

HARD SURFACES:

Spray or mop the area soiled with the cat urine. Saturate it completely and let the area dry for 2-3 days.

I hope this information helps and gives you a direction to follow up on.

Tabbi


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for all of your suggestions. My cat goes to the vet regularly and has had no illnesses detected. He does have bad teeth and has them cleaned once a year. I always have blood tests done at that time. Sam was only three weeks old when taken from his mother ( we didn't realize it, being former dog owners). I wonder if this has anything to do with his behavior. He is twelve now, I love him and would never put him down or abandon him. I have used the Feliway, it didn't work. Maybe thisis just the way he is. Thanks for the recipe. I have spent thousands on carpet replacement, cleaning products, etc.

Answer
Ellen,

I'm glad to hear his health is good. He sounds like a very loved pussycat!

Being weaned too early could have made a difference. Kittens learn to eliminate properly by copying the mother cat where she goes. If he didn't get to learn that then he may think it's normal to go anywhere.

Tabbi